For years it was a battle I fought tirelessly, using every weapon at my disposal – from serums and sprays to flat irons and round-bristle hairbrushes.
Though it was a battle I couldn’t win, I tenaciously endured every vacation, spending hours in hotel bathrooms blow-drying my hair in 30-degree heat, determined to wrestle it into the smooth waves I aspire to at home.
Needless to say, within minutes of going out to dinner, the heat and humidity inevitably caused my hair to revert to its naturally curly, untamed state; all my hard work for nothing.
I’ll be hair for you: Friends star Jennifer Aniston showcases what she calls her “moist hair.”
The mane in Spain: The usually immaculately coiffed actress Margot Robbie left her hair down on Formentera
I eventually gave up and am now adopting a more natural approach on my summer break. It just doesn’t feel like a defeat these days. Honestly, it’s more like a liberation. A full two weeks without the tyranny of blow-drying and straightening to look groomed and professional.
That’s why I was delighted to see beauty guru and businesswoman Trinny Woodall letting her normally flawless locks run wild on a break in Colorado this week. And she is not alone. From Penny Lancaster to Margot Robbie, celebrities are giving their sleek styles the cold shoulder.
In fact, I’d say it gave me a little anticipation that I’ll soon be sporting vacation hair in France too — and I don’t care how scruffy I look.
Rocking a new look: Penny Lancaster, aka Mrs Rod Stewart, is having fun in Italy this week
Running wild: Fashion’s Trinny Woodall let her styled tresses down in Colorado
Aside from giving you more time for fun, you’ll also lighten up your suitcase by letting your hair do its own thing while on vacation.
My toiletry bag used to be stuffed full of hair products. As well as shampoo and conditioner, there are foundation creams, setting sprays, serums, mousses, gels and oils to cover every eventuality. Because the thing about holidays is that you never really know what’s in store for you until you get there.
Will it be the humidity that gets you, the salt water on the beach or the chlorine in the pool? And there’s no telling how the water in Ibiza or Provence might affect frizz and volume.
The turning point for me came after a trip to Hong Kong – notorious for its humidity – in 2008. I had been sitting outside having a drink with friends and going to the bathroom for a moment. Having straightened and straightened my hair just an hour earlier, I couldn’t believe the image the mirror reflected to me: my hair had quadrupled in size. In desperation, I tried hand cream to tame it, but it was hopeless.
Embarrassed: Hollywood star Catherine Zeta-Jones gives in to the curls
Well, that’s a Mexican wave: superstar actress Nicole Kidman goes brushless in Cabo
Needless to say, there is no photographic evidence, but believe me when I say I looked like I was wearing a clown wig.
It reminded me of the Friends episode where Monica (Courteney Cox) is in Barbados and her hair is also suffering from the effects of humidity. The episode revolves around jokes about her fullness, which Jennifer Aniston’s Rachel says is “twice what it was when we landed.” Oh I felt her pain.
deep rolling? Adele eschewed her normally elegant style for an altogether messier thing in this Instagram post
Instagram: BGT Judge Amanda Holden posted this natural look on social media
While my huge Hong Kong hair isn’t a look I want to repeat, looking at pictures of me with hair that’s allowed to get a little wild, I actually love the look. There’s a nice alchemy that might have to do with the speed at which my hair dries in Mediterranean climates or the mineral content of tap water in California, but whatever it is, you just can’t reproduce it at home. So if, like me, you’re not flying off on vacation yet, I urge you to pare down your hair care kit to the bare essentials. Instead, spend your money on a moisturizing mask and a good haircut on your return.
As for the time you save, spend it with another sundowner and revel in the joy of truly unwinding – the very definition of what a vacation should be about.
Image research: Claire Cisotti
A TOP STYLIST’S TIPS FOR STAYING SHINY IN THE HEAT
There’s an art to letting your hair run free without letting it take over completely, says Nick Peters, artistic director of Daniel Galvin’s hair salons in London.
Many women like to reduce their hair care in the summer. The two most important things are preparation and protection. By preparation I mean how you wear your hair. After washing and conditioning in the morning, consider tying damp hair into pigtails for the day—this keeps it from being blown around in the wind and getting tangled. It also keeps hair out of your face and neck when you’re hot and bothered. If you take it down in the evening you will be left with crashing beach waves. And that’s whether your hair is naturally wavy or not — I defy even the straightest hair to resist the pretty kinks that result from being in braids all day.
Add a cream or oil to prevent UV damage – I like Kérastase’s Soleil range or Bumble and Bumble’s Invisible Oil UV Protective Dry Oil – and you’ll find that it doesn’t frizz, chip or color rises as it would if it were really left to the elements. Finally, an Alice band or the classic slicked-back sunglass look is great for preventing a burnt parting—and for brushing your larger-than-life tresses off your face.
As LIBBY GALVIN said